Hydroaeroplane



Sept 1, 1925 1,551,983

C. DORNIER HYDROAEROPLANE Filed Jan, 24. 1925 INVENTOH C'Zaudius DarnierBy M ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 1, 1925 UNI-TED STAT PATENT OFFICE.

OF ONE-HALF TO THE FIRM DORNIER-METALLBAUTEN, GESELLSQHAFT MIT.

BESCHRZNKTER HAFTUNG, OF FRIEDBIGHSHAFEN-O'N-THE-BODENSEE, GERMANY.

HYDROAEROPLANE.

Application filed January 24, 1925. Serial No. 4,383.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I CLAUDIUS DORNIER, a citizen of Germany, residin'g'atFriedrichshafen-on-the-Bodensee, Germany, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in 'Hydroaeroplanes, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to a method of staying floats on aircraft.

For thep'urpose of attaching floats to air craft, the usual practice isto construct a framework of struts underneath the actual body of theflying machine, one end of the system of struts being secured to theunderside of the body, while the other end-serves for the attachment tothe floats. The usual methpd of stifl'ening the framework againsttransverse and axial thrusts 1s by means of diagonal ties and other wirebracings.

This method of attaching floats to aircraft is attended by numerousdisadvantages.-

The' large number of struts and bracings contribute substantially toincreasing the un favorable air resistance, Since this arrangementconsists of many members, each .of which is essential in itself, thereliabilityin operation is greatly restricted from the outset,especially when it is remembered that very excessive stresses are set upin the individual struts of the framework during bad landings.Consequently, breakage of the float framework are still normal phenomenain the running of float machines. The aforesaid method of constructionis also defective in other respects. In the first place, assemblingnecessitates special appliances and particularly. skilled workmen, sothat, infman'y instances the attaching of the floats is a matter ofgreat difliculty.

By contrast, the subject of this invention provides a method of stayingthe floats which does away with all complicated framework and ensures avery simple and advantageous method of manufacture and very favourableconditions for the attachment of The invention is characterized,substan-' tiall in that at least one pair of rigid unbenging fins orstump wings, to the lower members of which the floats are secured, isarranged on each side of the body of the aircraft The cross-sectionalform of the struts is preferably similar to the profile of a propeller,so that not only is the unfavourable wind resistance very low, but atthe same time a lifting effect is produced. In

on the water, are taken up by another pair of stump wings arranged at asuitable distance from the first pair. This second pair may also bereplaced by other methods of staying. v I

In accordance with the smaller stresses, this second pair of wings maybe of considerably lighter construction, and therefore have more thecharacter of an auxiliary structure. Hence this method of staying canbe' replaced by any other suitable form, such as simple stay rods which,in certain circumstances can be swung up against the body of themachine, when in the air and the floats are no longer in action, inorder to-reduce the air resistance still further. The said auxiliarywings can,'l1o-wever, also be replaced by a continuous auxiliary orconnecting member of the bridge type on which the front part of the bodyof the machine rests.

In developing the invention further, the fixed auxiliary stump wings canbe. connected with the floats by hinges, the floats themselves beingsprung in relation to the stum -like main wings.

This method of securing or arranging floats on aircraft, by means ofsuch wlngs produces an extremely firmv and simple constructionparticularly favourable to the stability of the aircraft and renderingthe use of stays and braces superfluous. Moreover, the spaces underneaththe body of the machine and between the floats can be advantageouslyutilized for equipment purposes since as already mentioned,;noconstructio'nance with the invention is excellently adapted for torpedowork.

Several embodiments are illustrated in the drawing.

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of an aircraft constructed with floats inaccordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 isa side elevation of Fig. 1.

In this embodiment the staying devices used consist for example of mainand auxiliary stumps.

Fig. 3 shows a plan of an aircraft forming a further embodiment of thesubject of the invention and in this case in addition to the main stumpwings, the auxiliary fins being omitted, only a support adapted to swinglaterally is provided which is shown in the swung-out position in thedrawing. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3, the jib-like supportsbeing shown folded against the body ofthe machine.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a indicates the body of the aircraft, alongside whichthe main fins or stump wings I) and auxiliary stump wings cfor examplein stump formare arranged. The floats cl are secured in the describedmanner on to the under side of these stumps.

In Figs. 3 and 4 supports or stump wings f provided a auxiliary supportsare shown.

These supporting means for example are so mounted that they can ifnecessary be swung into recesses g.

I claim v 1. Float supporting structure for aircraft comprising a stumpwing arranged laterally at one end on eachv side of the body oftheaircraft and adapted to produce a lifting effect when the aircraft is inflight; and a float secured at the other end of each stump wing andadapted to support the entire weight of the aircraft when on the water.I

2. Float stays for aircraft comprising a pair of rigid stump wings eachlaterally arranged on one side of the body of the aircraft and to eachof which a float is,secured;

and a pair of auxiliary stump wings each arranged on one side of the.body" of the aircraftv which are adapted to counteract the turningmoments of the first-named wings. p

3. Float stays for aircraft comprising a pair of rigid stump wings eachlaterally arranged'on one side of the body of the aircraft and to eachof which a float is secured; each wing having a curved on as; section inorder to produce a lifting effect when the aircraft is in flight; and apair of auxiliary stump wings each arranged on one side of the body ofthe aircraft which are adapted to counteract the turning moments of thefirst-named stump wings, each of said auxiliary stump wings having acurved cross section in order to produce a lifting eflect when theaircraft is in flight.

4. Float stays for aircraft comprising a pair of rigid stump wings eachlaterally arranged on one side of the body of the aircraft and to eachof which a float is secured; and a pair of auxiliary stump wings eacharranged on one side of the body of the aircraft which are adapted tocounteract the turning moments of the first-named wings, said auxiliarywings being adapted to be moved to reduce the air resistance when theaircraft is in flight.

5. Float stays for aircraft comprising-a pair of rigid stump wingseachlaterally arranged on one side of the body ofthe aircraft and to each ofwhich a float is secured; and a pair of hinged auxiliary stump wingseach arranged on one side of the body of the aircraft which are adaptedto counteract the turning moments of the first-named stump wings, saidauxiliary stump wings due to the hinged connection to the body of theaircraft being adapted to be moved to reduce the air resistance when theaircraft is in flight.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLAUDIUS DORNIER.

